S.A. advocates hope for bold decision on marriage equality

By Elaine Ayala :
March 25, 2013
: Updated: March 26, 2013 6:29am

Erika Casasola (left) and Anel Flores (second from right), with daughters Jessica (right) and Klarissa, shown in September 2011, will appear on Katie Couric's daytime talk show Tuesday in support of marriage equality.

Photo By Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News

Portrait of Jason Garcia-Parsons (left) and Darrell Garcia-Parsons with their dogs Priscilla (left) and Champ (right) Monday March 25, 2013 at their home. The couple was married last August in New York City.

Photo By Harry Thomas

The Light the Way to Justice March and Rally for Marriage Equality, organized by members of GetEqual Texas, begins at 7:30 p.m. at Milam Park. Marchers will take downtown sidewalks to the Bexar County Courthouse, where a candlelight vigil will be held.

Photo By Jose Luis Magana / AP

People wait to enter, outside of the U.S. Supreme Court, in Washington, on Monday March, 25, 2013, a day before the case for gay and lesbian couples rights, will be argued before the Supreme Court.

Photo By NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Selena Fox (second from the right) of the Circle Sanctuary Wiccan church and followers sing in favor of same-sex marriage in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington on March 25, 2013. The justices will hear arguments on March 26 on California's Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriage and on March 27 on the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman.

Photo By Jose Luis Magana

People wait in line outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, Monday March, 25, 2013, a day before the court will hear a same-sex marriage case.

Photo By Jose Luis Magana/Associated Press

Sandy Stier, left, and Kris Perry stand outside the National Archives in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2013, before going inside to view the U.S. Constitution, a day before their same-sex marriage case will be heard before the Supreme Court.

Photo By Scott Olson/Getty Images

Evette Cardona (L) and her partner Mona Noriega participate in a rally in support of gay marriage March 25, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. The Supreme Court will hear arguments this week in two cases that could determine if states or the federal government can treat same-sex couples and those of the opposite sex differently when recognizing a marriage. The Illinois Senate has approved legislation that will legalize same-sex marriage in the state but it still has to be approved by the Illinois House and signed by Governor Pat Quinn, who has said he supports the legislation. If passed Illinois would become the tenth state to allow same-sex marriage. Thirty states have defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Photo By Scott Olson/Getty Images

Gay rights activist rally in support of gay marriage March 25, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. The Supreme Court will hear arguments this week in two cases that could determine if states or the federal government can treat same-sex couples and those of the opposite sex differently when recognizing a marriage. The Illinois Senate has approved legislation that will legalize same-sex marriage in the state but it still has to be approved by the Illinois House and signed by Governor Pat Quinn, who has said he supports the legislation. If passed Illinois would become the tenth state to allow same-sex marriage. Thirty states have defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Photo By Scott Olson/Getty Images

Teck Chan (center) participates in a rally in support of gay marriage March 25, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. The Supreme Court will hear arguments this week in two cases that could determine if states or the federal government can treat same-sex couples and those of the opposite sex differently when recognizing a marriage. The Illinois Senate has approved legislation that will legalize same-sex marriage in the state but it still has to be approved by the Illinois House and signed by Governor Pat Quinn, who has said he supports the legislation. If passed Illinois would become the tenth state to allow same-sex marriage. Thirty states have defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Photo By Scott Olson/Getty Images

Anna Feldman (center) participates in a rally in support of gay marriage March 25, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. The Supreme Court will hear arguments this week in two cases that could determine if states or the federal government can treat same-sex couples and those of the opposite sex differently when recognizing a marriage. The Illinois Senate has approved legislation that will legalize same-sex marriage in the state but it still has to be approved by the Illinois House and signed by Governor Pat Quinn, who has said he supports the legislation. If passed Illinois would become the tenth state to allow same-sex marriage. Thirty states have defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Photo By Scott Olson/Getty Images

Gay rights activist rally in support of gay marriage March 25, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. The Supreme Court will hear arguments this week in two cases that could determine if states or the federal government can treat same-sex couples and those of the opposite sex differently when recognizing a marriage. The Illinois Senate has approved legislation that will legalize same-sex marriage in the state but it still has to be approved by the Illinois House and signed by Governor Pat Quinn, who has said he supports the legislation. If passed Illinois would become the tenth state to allow same-sex marriage. Thirty states have defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Photo By Scott Olson/Getty Images

Gay rights activist rally in support of gay marriage March 25, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. The Supreme Court will hear arguments this week in two cases that could determine if states or the federal government can treat same-sex couples and those of the opposite sex differently when recognizing a marriage. The Illinois Senate has approved legislation that will legalize same-sex marriage in the state but it still has to be approved by the Illinois House and signed by Governor Pat Quinn, who has said he supports the legislation. If passed Illinois would become the tenth state to allow same-sex marriage. Thirty states have defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Photo By Scott Olson/Getty Images

Gay rights activist rally in support of gay marriage March 25, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. The Supreme Court will hear arguments this week in two cases that could determine if states or the federal government can treat same-sex couples and those of the opposite sex differently when recognizing a marriage. The Illinois Senate has approved legislation that will legalize same-sex marriage in the state but it still has to be approved by the Illinois House and signed by Governor Pat Quinn, who has said he supports the legislation. If passed Illinois would become the tenth state to allow same-sex marriage. Thirty states have defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Photo By Scott Olson/Getty Images

Gay rights activist rally in support of gay marriage March 25, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. The Supreme Court will hear arguments this week in two cases that could determine if states or the federal government can treat same-sex couples and those of the opposite sex differently when recognizing a marriage. The Illinois Senate has approved legislation that will legalize same-sex marriage in the state but it still has to be approved by the Illinois House and signed by Governor Pat Quinn, who has said he supports the legislation. If passed Illinois would become the tenth state to allow same-sex marriage. Thirty states have defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Photo By Scott Olson/Getty Images

Gay rights activist rally in support of gay marriage March 25, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. The Supreme Court will hear arguments this week in two cases that could determine if states or the federal government can treat same-sex couples and those of the opposite sex differently when recognizing a marriage. The Illinois Senate has approved legislation that will legalize same-sex marriage in the state but it still has to be approved by the Illinois House and signed by Governor Pat Quinn, who has said he supports the legislation. If passed Illinois would become the tenth state to allow same-sex marriage. Thirty states have defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Photo By Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Supporters of same-sex marriage make signs during a rally in support of marriage equality on March 25, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Supporters of same-sex marriage held a rally and are set to march through San Francisco a day before the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on California's Proposition 8, the controversial ballot initiative that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

Photo By Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Same-sex marriage supporter Nikolas Lemos waves a Pride flag during a rally in support of marriage equality on March 25, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Supporters of same-sex marriage held a rally and are set to march through San Francisco a day before the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on California's Proposition 8, the controversial ballot initiative that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

Photo By Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A same-sex marriage supporter dressed as the pope holds a sign during a rally in support of marriage equality on March 25, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Supporters of same-sex marriage held a rally and are set to march through San Francisco a day before the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on California's Proposition 8, the controversial ballot initiative that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

Photo By Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Supporters of same-sex marriage carry Pride flags during a rally in support of marriage equality on March 25, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Supporters of same-sex marriage held a rally and are set to march through San Francisco a day before the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on California's Proposition 8, the controversial ballot initiative that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

Photo By Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Supporters of same-sex marriage carry signs as they march during a rally in support of marriage equality on March 25, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Supporters of same-sex marriage held a rally and are set to march through San Francisco a day before the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on California's Proposition 8, the controversial ballot initiative that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

Photo By Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A same-sex couple kisses as they march during a rally in support of marriage equality on March 25, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Supporters of same-sex marriage held a rally and are set to march through San Francisco a day before the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on California's Proposition 8, the controversial ballot initiative that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

Photo By Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Same-sex couple Ken Mauldin (L) and Larry Davanzo embrace during a rally in support of marriage equality on March 25, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Supporters of same-sex marriage held a rally and are set to march through San Francisco a day before the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on California's Proposition 8, the controversial ballot initiative that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

Photo By Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Supporters of same-sex marriage hold signs during a rally in support of marriage equality on March 25, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Supporters of same-sex marriage held a rally and are set to march through San Francisco a day before the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on California's Proposition 8, the controversial ballot initiative that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

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As the Supreme Court begins hearing arguments Tuesday on the constitutionality of same-sex marriage, members of San Antonio's gay and lesbian community are expressing optimism that their right to marry might soon be the law in every state in the union.

“I'm hopeful,” said Anel Flores, a San Antonian whose family will appear on national television Tuesday in support of marriage equality.

Flores and her partner, Erika Casasola, who have lived together for eight years, and their two daughters will be featured on “Katie,” a nationally syndicated daytime talk show on ABC hosted by Katie Couric.

They'll make their case for marriage rights, noting increased support nationally. Poll after poll shows a majority of Americans are ready to extend equal rights and protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens. Conservatives have pointed out that the polls that count — state elections — have attracted more voters who reject marriage equality.

Still, the November election saw a reversal of that trend, and nine states and the District of Columbia have approved marriage equality laws.

Texas isn't one of them: Voters banned marriage equality with a constitutional amendment in 2005, and statewide officeholders from Gov. Rick Perry on down, all Republicans, oppose efforts this year by Democrats in the Legislature to legalize it. That would require another statewide vote in the unlikely event the measure passes.

In San Antonio, activists said the dominoes against bans on same-sex marriage and other forms of discrimination against the LGBT community are falling across the country.

“I've sensed it, and I've felt it,” said Flores, who with Casasola is thinking of getting married in Mexico City, where same-sex marriage is legal, “or in San Antonio, hopefully, if it becomes legal.”

The sponsor of Texas' 2005 ban on same-sex marriage, former state lawmaker Warren Chisum, acknowledged in February that the national trend was running against Texas, which he called “a little more conservative than the rest of the country.”

“We'll be the oddball of all of them, I guess,” he said of other states.

San Antonio activists will march Tuesday night in support of equality. The Light the Way to Justice March and Rally for Marriage Equality begins at 7:30 p.m. at Milam Park and will end in front of the Bexar County Courthouse, where a candlelight vigil will be held.

Because city permits were not acquired in time, the march will be on downtown sidewalks, organizers said.

Advocates here are rooting for a broad decision from the top court on the case it will hear Tuesday, California's Proposition 8, which is viewed as more likely to produce a ruling on the constitutionality of marriage equality.

“If it affects just Proposition 8, that means we have more work to do,” said Darrell Garcia Parsons, a San Antonian involved in LGBT issues locally and nationally.

On Wednesday, the court will hear arguments on the Defense of Marriage Act, the 1996 federal law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, preventing gay and lesbian couples from benefiting from federal tax laws and Social Security survivor benefits, for example.

Parsons and his husband, Jason Garcia Parsons, were married in New York last year. Over the weekend, they reaffirmed their vows in front of 175 friends and family in San Antonio.

“In a personal spin, there were family members there who 15, 20 years ago wouldn't have thought about attending a gay wedding,” Darrell Parsons said. “But they were there.”

In a major generational gap, those born since 1980 support same-sex marriage by 70 percent, a Pew Research poll said.

Rose Lopez Camacho, who has been in a domestic partnership for 11 years, said she won't give up on hopes for marriage equality, in spite of persistent barriers.

“We vote. We pay our taxes. We support our district representatives. We go to community meetings,” she said in an email. “Yet when it comes to us being able to be accounted for as a couple, we don't count.”

“Not being able to make certain life-depending decisions, getting tax breaks, etc., makes it so difficult for us, but yet we never give up and never will.”